GAME NOTES: Coming off a trouncing in conference play last weekend, the Wake
Forest Demon Deacons will try to regroup as they host the Army Black Knights
in Saturday afternoon action at BB&T Field.

Through the first two games of the season Army has been unable to get in the
win column. The Knights were routed 42-7 on a west coast trip to face San
Diego State and this past weekend fell in a 41-40 thriller at home to
Northern Illinois. The loss to the Huskies ended a three-game home winning
streak by the Knights and came despite a +3 advantage for Army in the
turnover department. Not really known for a high powered offense, the 81
combined points in the game were the most for Army since 2003.

Wake Forest managed to secure victories in each of its first two games but
that momentum was put to a halt in week three. The Demon Deacons traveled to
Tallahassee and were thrashed 52-0 by a nationally ranked Florida State
squad. The Demon Deacons are now 6-25 all-time against ranked opponents
under head coach Jim Grobe. The last time the Demon Deacons were shutout
occurred in 2010, also against the Seminoles.

These teams have matched up 11 times since the first meeting during Army's
1945
national championship season. The Demon Deacons hold a 7-4 edge in the series
and have won five straight, including a 21-10 win during the 2007 season, the
last time these squads squared off in Winston-Salem.

Though it has only played two games so far this season Army has still
managed to be one of the top rushing offenses in the country. A squad that
relies on an option scheme, the Black Knights have rushed for 768 yards
through the first two games, which is the second only to Air Force among
teams with only two contests and 13th among all teams.

That impressive rushing attack was on display against Northern Illinois with
three different players rushing for over 100 yards and the team racking up a
total of 486 yards on the ground. It was the first time since 1996 that Army
had three different players reach the century mark on the ground in one
game. Raymond Maples was the lead back in the game, finishing with 159 yards
and a score. Larry Dixon (136 yards) and Trent Steelman (129) also piled up
the carries and yards while scoring a combined five touchdowns.

Steelman is also the squad's quarterback though the passing game is severely
limited in Army's offense and was so again against the Huskies. Steelman
threw the ball only three times for one eight-yard completion. Those eight
yards were the entirety of the Black Knight's aerial attack.

Even without much of a passing game Army still managed to find success
converting on third down (9-for-17), fourth down (3-for-5) and inside the red
zone, where the Knights scored four touchdowns in four trips.

Army's defense was not able to hold up well enough to stop Northern Illinois.
The Knights surrendered 515 total yards, including 342 through the air. Army
was also unable to get much pressure going without a sack in the game while
allowing the Huskies to convert 8-of-9 attempts on third down.

Despite those shortcomings the game remained close with Army dominating time
of possession, holding the ball for 42:33 as well as forcing three turnovers
on defense while committing none as a team.

Nate Combs forced a fumble and had the team's only tackle for loss and Tyler
Dickson had an interception. Geoffery Bacon led the team with nine total
tackles.

After being shutout by Florida State, Wake Forest is now the lowest scoring
team in the ACC with the squad averaging 16.0 points per game. The Demon
Deacons, who were held to just 126 yards in the loss, now rank above only
Maryland in the conference in yards per game (281.7).

Before he was sacked three ties and constantly under pressure against the
Seminoles, quarterback Tanner Price was having a solid season. The signal
caller completed only 8-of-22 passes for 82 yards in the loss, but has still
thrown for 604 yards. Price has only thrown one touchdown on the season,
though and has been picked off twice and his 58.0 percent completion
percentage is seventh in the ACC among quarterbacks who have at least 59
attempts.

Junior running back Josh Harris rushed for 51 yards, which was a team-high, in
the loss to Florida State though the majority of that came on a 34-yard run in
the first quarter. Overall the Demon Deacons had only 43 yards on the ground
with a number of negative rushing plays. Wake Forest's 205 total rushing
yards this season is at the bottom of the ACC.

Getting lit up for 52 points clearly isn't a positive sign for the defense.
The unit allowed 612 total yards to the Seminoles, giving up 27 first downs
while the offense managed only seven. Wake Forest is now allowing 467.7
yards and 32.0 points per game which are both the worst marks in the
conference.

Brandon Chubb led the unit on the day with seven total tackles, including one
for loss. Kris Redding forced a fumble and had a pair of sacks as well.

Despite its low ranking among the statistical leaders in the ACC, Wake Forest
is not nearly as bad as the Florida State loss would indicate. Against a one-
dimensional Army team, especially one that has lost nine straight road games,
the Demon Deacons should be able to improve their defensive numbers and open
up offensively.